Abathsahayeswarar Temple,
Aduthurai – The Temple
This
Temple is facing towards east with three tiered
Rajagopuram and has two prakarams. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found
immediately after the Rajagopuram. There is no Dhwaja Sthambam (flag staff) in
the temple but a place for flag staff is available. The sanctum sanctorum
consists of Sanctum, Antarala and Artha Mandapam.
Presiding Deity is called as Abathsahayeswarar
and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Shiva Lingam.
Lord is a Swayambhu Murthy. It is believed that Lord Suryan (Sun) worships Lord
Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the Lingam for three days in the
Tamil month of Chithirai 5 to 7 (April-May).
The sanctum is constructed in
such a way that on the 5th, 6th and 7th day of
Tamil month Chithirai, Sun’s rays fall on the water of Surya Theertham and the
reflection falls on the Lord in the sanctum. Mostly in other temples, the Sun
rays directly fall on the Lord but here the reflection fall on Lord. The
sanctum sanctorum is of Agazhi type. It is surrounded by a moat like formation
on all the 4 sides.
The Vimana over the sanctum
follows Vesara style. Narthana Vinayaga, Agasthya, Nataraja, Dakshinamurthy,
Lingothbhava, Bramha, Gangadhara, Bikshadana and Durga are the Koshta idols
located around the sanctum walls. Mother is called as Pavalakkodi Ammai / Vandar
Karumenkuzhal Mangai. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her
shrine is situated in the outer prakaram.
There is a shrine for Navagrahas
in the inner prakaram. All the planets in the shrine are facing Lord Suryan.
There are shrines and idols of Gajalakshmi, Indralingam, Kuberalingam,
Chandikeswarar, Chandikeswari, Suryan, Chandran, Mootha Vinayakar, Lord Murugan
with his consorts Valli & Deivanai, Somaskandar, Nalvar, Vayumurthy,
Mahaganapathy and Kasi Vinayakar in the Temple premises.
There are shrines for
Viswanathar along with his consort Visalakshi, Vinayagar and Murugan in the
outer prakaram. There is a shrine for Lord Nataraja with his consort Shivagami
in the outer prakaram. There is a hall next to Nataraja Shrine. This Hall
houses the shrines of Saneeswarar, Banalingam, Saint Harathathar and Sorna
Akarshana Bairavar.
There is a stucco image depicting
the Sthala purana of Sugriva worshiping Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva changing Sugriva
to a swan and Sugriva wife to Parijada Tree in the Mandapam. There are
sculptures depicting Karaikal Ammaiyar worshiping Lord Abathsahayeswarar and
Queen Chembian Maadevi worshiping Lord Abathsahayeswarar.
There is a hall named Appar
Arangam where the temple festivals are performed. Theertham associated with
this Temple are Sahaya Theertham and Surya Theertham. Sthala Vriksham is Pavazha
Malli tree. Stone inscriptions from the Chera and Chola period have been found
in this
temple.
